Calibrachoa plant named ‘Balcabwitim’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Balcabwitim’, characterized by its white-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded-trialing growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Calibrachoa×hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balcabwitim’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant botanically known as Calibrachoa×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balcabwitim’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Elburn, Ill. during November 2002. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Calibrachoa cultivars with attractive flower coloration, medium green-colored foliage, and a moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit.

The new Calibrachoa cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Calibrachoa×hybrida breeding selection designated 1023-2, not patented, characterized by its rose-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and trailing growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is a Calibrachoa×hybrida mixed pollen source from plants having various colored flowers, medium to dark green-colored foliage, and prostrate to mounded growth habits. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during June 2004 in a controlled environment at Elburn, Ill.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since June 2004 at Arroyo Grande, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balcabwitim’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. White-colored flowers;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in flower color and growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Calibrachoa cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison of the new cultivar is Callie White ‘Cal White’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,497. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Cal White’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar are narrower than plants of ‘Cal         White’; and     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar are better branched than plants of         ‘Cal White’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balcabwitim’. The plants were grown in 4.5 inch pots for 12 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balcabwitim’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of ‘Balcabwitim’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined on Feb. 23, 2006 between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. under natural light conditions in West Chicago. Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5 inch pots for 12 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.) during the day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandles were maintained during the day.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa×hybrida cultivar Balcabwitim. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Calibrachoa×hybrida breeding             selection designated 1023-2, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Calibrachoa×hybrida mixed pollen source. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 8 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 24 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 6 to 7 weeks from a             rooted cutting.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,             trailing, becoming mounded with age.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 7.9 cm. Width: Approximately 40.6 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching. Quantity of main branches             per plant: Approximately 6.         -   Branch.—Strength: Strong. Length: Approximately 22.7 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Length of central internode:             Approximately 1.5 cm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent.             Color of young stem: 144C. Color of mature stem: 146D. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:             Approximately 26. Fragrance: Slight. Form: Simple.             Arrangement on flowering stem: Opposite.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: At acute angle to stem with tip turning             downward. Shape: Elliptic. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute.             Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature             leaf: Approximately 3.2 cm. Width of mature leaf:             Approximately 1.0 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Glandular pubescent. Color of upper surface of young             foliage: 137C with venation of 144D. Color of lower surface             of young foliage: 138C with venation of 144D. Color of upper             surface of mature foliage: 137B with venation of 144D. Color             of lower surface of mature foliage: 138B with venation of             144D.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 2.8 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Glandular pubescent. Color:             144D. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balcabwitim’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately             5 to 6 days. -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Single, salverform. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 44. Fragrance: None.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 9.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblong. Length:             Approximately 1.7 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4.5 mm.             Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Color: Petals 4D and             corolla tube 160C both with venation of 151D.         -   Corolla.—Diameter: Approximately 2.8 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, fused to form a tube. Shape: Obovate.             Margin: Entire. Apex: Obtuse, some acuminate. Length from             tube: Approximately 1.1 cm. Length of free portion:             Approximately 4.7 mm. Width: Approximately 1.2 cm. Texture             of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface:             Glandular pubescent, dense along the veins. Color of all             surfaces when first open and when fully open: 155D with             midveins of N144A.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 1.5 cm. Diameter at             distal end: Approximately 6.0 mm. Diameter at proximal end:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous.             Texture of outer surface: Glandular pubescent. Color of             inner surface: 9A with venation of N144A. Color of outer             surface: 160D with venation of 151D.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Acute angle to stem.             Length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Diameter: Approximately             1.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Color: 144C.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused along lower half.             Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Length: Approximately             1.1 cm. Width: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of upper and             lower surfaces: Densely glandular pubescent. Color of upper             surface: 138A. Color of lower surface: 138B with 144C at             base.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5 per             flower, fused to inside of corolla tube. Stamen length:             Approximately 1.1 cm. Filament length of free portion:             Approximately 6.4 mm. Filament color: 145D. Anther shape: 2             parted, oval. Anther length: Approximately 0.5 mm. Anther             color: 10A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: 13B.             Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length:             Approximately 9.6 mm. Stigma shape: Funnel. Stigma length:             Approximately 0.5 mm. Stigma color: 144A. Style length:             Approximately 7.6 mm. Style color: 145D. Ovary diameter:             Approximately 1.5 mm. Ovary color: N144B. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and petal resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Calibrachoa has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘Balcabwitim’, substantially as herein shown and described. 